Motor including a seal covering a high reflectivity metallic surface of a rotor hub

ABSTRACT

This motor includes a stationary portion including a stator; and a rotating portion supported to be rotatable about a central axis extending in a vertical direction with respect to the stationary portion, and including a shaft arranged to extend along the central axis. The stationary portion includes a bearing arranged to rotatably support the shaft, and a base portion arranged to hold the stator. The rotating portion includes a rotor hub portion arranged to extend in an annular shape around the shaft; a magnet directly or indirectly fixed to the rotor hub portion, and arranged opposite to the stator; a flywheel arranged axially above the rotor hub portion; and a seal portion arranged to have a thickness smaller than the thickness of the magnet. At least a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the rotor hub portion is a metal surface. The metal surface has a reflectivity higher than the reflectivity of an outer circumferential surface of the flywheel and the reflectivity of a surface of the seal portion. The metal surface is covered with the seal portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. patent application is a continuation of and claims priority toco-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/641,392, entitled “MOTOR INCLUDING A SEAL COVERING A HIGHREFLECTIVITY METALLIC SURFACE OF A ROTOR HUB,” and filed on Jul. 5,2017, which claims the benefit of priority to Japanese PatentApplication No. 2016-160302 filed on Aug. 18, 2016, the entirety ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a motor.

2. Description of the Related Art

A motor for use in a DLP (digital light processing) single-chipprojector is described in JP-A 2005-278309. In this projector, lightemitted from a light source passes through a color wheel that rotatesalong with rotation of the motor. The light passing through the colorwheel is converted into light in one of RGB bands. This light impingeson a digital micromirror device, and then, the light reflected from thedigital micromirror device is guided onto a predetermined screen todisplay an image on the screen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the case of a motor used in a device that manipulates light, such asthe motor described in JP-A 2005-278309, reflection of light emittedfrom a light source by an outer circumferential surface of the motor maycause a diffuse reflection. Such a diffuse reflection causes noise inoutput light to be outputted from the device. In particular, in themotor described in JP-A 2005-278309, a surface of a rotor hub is made ofa metal material. Therefore, light emitted from the light source andreflected by the metal surface of the rotor hub tends to easily cause adiffuse reflection of light.

The present invention has been conceived to reduce reflection of lightby an outer circumferential surface of a rotating portion of a motor.

A motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present inventionincludes a stationary portion including a stator; and a rotating portionsupported to be rotatable about a central axis extending in a verticaldirection with respect to the stationary portion, and including a shaftarranged to extend along the central axis. The stationary portionincludes a bearing arranged to rotatably support the shaft, and a baseportion arranged to hold the stator. The rotating portion includes arotor hub portion arranged to extend in an annular shape around theshaft; a magnet directly or indirectly fixed to the rotor hub portion,and arranged opposite to the stator; a flywheel arranged axially abovethe rotor hub portion; and a seal portion arranged to have a thicknesssmaller than a thickness of the magnet. At least a portion of an outercircumferential surface of the rotor hub portion is a metal surface. Themetal surface has a reflectivity higher than a reflectivity of an outercircumferential surface of the flywheel and a reflectivity of a surfaceof the seal portion. The metal surface is covered with the seal portion.

The above preferred embodiment of the present invention is able toachieve a reduction in reflection of light by an outer circumferentialsurface of the rotating portion. In addition, since the seal portion hasa small thickness, a center of gravity of the rotating portion can bemaintained radially inward, allowing stable rotation thereof.

The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics andadvantages of the present invention will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments withreference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a motor according to a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a motor according to a secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view of the motor according tothe second preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view of the motor according tothe second preferred embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a bearing according to the secondpreferred embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a sleeve according to the second preferredembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a motor according to amodification of the second preferred embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a partial vertical sectional view of a motor according to amodification of the second preferred embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partial vertical sectional view of a motor according to amodification of the second preferred embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a motor according to amodification of the second preferred embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of a motor according to amodification of the second preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, motors according to preferred embodiments of the presentinvention will be described. It is assumed herein that a directionparallel to a central axis of a motor is referred to by the term “axialdirection”, “axial”, or “axially”, that directions perpendicular to thecentral axis of the motor are each referred to by the term “radialdirection”, “radial”, or “radially”, and that a direction along acircular arc centered on the central axis of the motor is referred to bythe term “circumferential direction”, “circumferential”, or“circumferentially”. It is also assumed herein that an axial directionis a vertical direction, and that a side on which a flywheel is arrangedwith respect to a rotor hub portion is an upper side, and the shape ofeach member or portion and relative positions of different members orportions will be described based on the above assumptions. It should benoted, however, that the above definitions of the vertical direction andthe upper and lower sides are not meant to restrict in any way theorientation of a motor according to any preferred embodiment of thepresent invention at the time of manufacture or when in use.

1. First Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a motor 1A according to a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, themotor 1A includes a rotating portion 3A and a stationary portion 2Aincluding a stator 23A. The rotating portion 3A is supported to berotatable about a central axis 9A extending in the vertical directionwith respect to the stationary portion 2A.

The stationary portion 2A includes a bearing 24A arranged to rotatablysupport a shaft 31A, which will be described below, and a base portion20A arranged to hold the stator 23A.

The rotating portion 3A includes a rotor hub portion 32A, a magnet 34A,a flywheel 35A, and a seal portion 60A. The rotating portion 3A includesthe shaft 31A, which is columnar and is arranged to extend along thecentral axis 9A. Note that the shaft 31A may be defined integrally withthe rotor hub portion 32A. The rotor hub portion 32A is arranged toextend in an annular shape around the shaft 31A. The magnet 34A is fixedto the rotor hub portion 32A, and includes a pole surface arrangedradially opposite to the stator 23A. Note that the magnet 34A may bedirectly fixed to the rotor hub portion 32A, or be indirectly fixedthereto with another member therebetween. The flywheel 35A is arrangedaxially above the rotor hub portion 32A. The seal portion 60A isarranged to have a thickness smaller than the thickness of the magnet34A.

At least a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the rotor hubportion 32A is a metal surface 340A. The metal surface 340A is coveredwith the seal portion 60A. Note that the metal surface 340A has areflectivity higher than the reflectivity of an outer circumferentialsurface of the flywheel 35A and the reflectivity of a surface of theseal portion 60A. That is, the metal surface 340A, which has arelatively high reflectivity, is covered with the seal portion 60A,which has a reflectivity lower than the reflectivity of the metalsurface 340A. This contributes to reducing reflection of light by anouter circumferential surface of the rotating portion 3A. In addition,since the seal portion 60A has a small thickness, a center of gravity ofthe rotating portion 3A can be maintained radially inward, allowingstable rotation thereof.

2. Second Preferred Embodiment

2-1. Structure of Motor

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a motor 1 according to a secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, themotor 1 includes a rotating portion 3 and a stationary portion 2including a stator 23. The rotating portion 3 is supported to berotatable about a central axis 9 extending in the vertical directionwith respect to the stationary portion 2.

The stationary portion 2 includes a bearing 24 arranged to rotatablysupport a shaft 31, which will be described below, and a base portion 20arranged to hold the stator 23. The base portion 20 includes a mountingplate 21 and a stator holder 22

The mounting plate 21 is a plate-shaped member arranged to support thestator holder 22. A metal, such as, for example, stainless steel, isused as a material of the mounting plate 21. The mounting plate 21 isarranged to be perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to thecentral axis 9. In addition, the mounting plate 21 includes a circularthrough hole 210 in which a lower end portion of the stator holder 22 isfitted. When the motor 1 is used, the mounting plate 21 is fixed to aframe of a device through, for example, screwing. Note that a circuitboard to supply electric drive currents to coils 42 of the stator 23,which will be described below, may be arranged on a surface of themounting plate 21

The stator holder 22 is a cylindrical member arranged to extend in theaxial direction. The lower end portion of the stator holder 22 isinserted into the through hole 210 of the mounting plate 21, and isfixed to the mounting plate 21 by crimping. Note, however, that thestator holder 22 may alternatively be fixed to the mounting plate 21 byanother method, such as, for example, welding. Also note that themounting plate 21 and the stator holder 22 may alternatively be definedby a single continuous monolithic member.

The stator 23 includes a stator core 41 and the coils 42. The statorcore 41 is defined by, for example, laminated steel sheets, each ofwhich is a magnetic body. The stator core 41 includes a core back 411 inthe shape of a circular ring, and a plurality of teeth 412. The coreback 411 is fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the statorholder 22. The teeth 412 are arranged to project radially outward fromthe core back 411. A surface of each of the teeth 412 is coated with aninsulating coating. In addition, a conducting wire is wound around eachof the teeth 412 to define the coils 42. Note that an insulator made ofa resin may be arranged between each of the teeth 412 and acorresponding one of the coils 42.

The bearing 24 is a member arranged to rotatably support the shaft 31,which will be described below. The bearing 24 includes a sleeve 25arranged to extend in the axial direction to assume a cylindrical shapearound the shaft 31, and a disk-shaped cap 26 arranged to close anopening at a lower end portion of the sleeve 25. A lower portion of thesleeve 25 is inserted into a space radially inside of the stator holder22, and is fixed to the stator holder 22 through, for example, anadhesive. An upper end portion of the sleeve 25 is arranged axiallyabove an upper end portion of the stator holder 22 and an upper endportion of the stator 23.

The rotating portion 3 includes a rotor hub portion 32, a yoke 33, amagnet 34, a flywheel 35, and a seal portion 60, which will be describedbelow. The rotating portion 3 includes the shaft 31, which is columnarand is arranged to extend along the central axis 9. The shaft 31 may bedefined integrally with the rotor hub portion 32 or be defined by amember separate from the rotor hub portion 32. The rotor hub portion 32includes a hub 320 and an inertia portion 36. Note that the rotor hubportion 32 may alternatively be defined by only the hub 320. A detaileddescription thereof will be provided below.

A metal, such as, for example, stainless steel, is used as a material ofthe shaft 31. A lower portion of the shaft 31 is arranged radiallyinside of the sleeve 25. Meanwhile, an upper end portion 311 of theshaft 31 is arranged axially above the upper end portion of the sleeve25. An outer circumferential surface of the shaft 31 and an innercircumferential surface of the sleeve 25 are arranged radially oppositeto each other with a slight gap therebetween.

In addition, a disk-shaped annular portion 37 is fixed to a lower endportion of the shaft 31. The annular portion 37 is arranged to extendradially outward from a lower end of the shaft 31. An upper surface ofthe annular portion 37 and a lower surface of the sleeve 25 are arrangedaxially opposite to each other with a slight gap therebetween. Inaddition, a lower surface of the annular portion 37 and an upper surfaceof the cap 26 are arranged axially opposite to each other with a slightgap therebetween. Note that the shaft 31 and the annular portion 37 mayalternatively be defined by a single monolithic member.

The rotor hub portion 32 is arranged to extend in an annular shapearound the shaft 31. The rotor hub portion 32 includes the inertiaportion 36, which is annular, is made of a metal, and is arranged tohave a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of theflywheel 35, which will be described below, and the hub 320, to whichthe inertia portion 36 is fixed. A metal, such as, for example, astainless metal, an aluminum alloy, or the like, is used as a materialof the hub 320. Referring to FIG. 2, the hub 320 includes a joiningportion 321, a cylindrical portion 322, and a flange portion 323. Thejoining portion 321 is arranged most radially inward in the rotor hubportion 32, and is fixed to the outer circumferential surface of theshaft 31. That is, the joining portion 321 is arranged to extend in anannular shape from an upper portion of the shaft 31. A through hole 330passing through the rotor hub portion 32 in the axial direction isdefined radially inside of the joining portion 321. The upper endportion 311 of the shaft 31 is press fitted in the through hole 330 ofthe rotor hub portion 32.

Further, an adhesive (not shown) is arranged between an outercircumferential surface of the upper end portion 311 of the shaft 31 andan inner circumferential surface of the joining portion 321. Thus, inthis motor 1, the shaft 31 and the rotor hub portion 32 are fixed toeach other through press fitting and the adhesive. Note, however, thatthe shaft 31 and the rotor hub portion 32 may alternatively be fixed toeach other through only press fitting or through only the adhesive. Alsonote that the shaft 31 and the rotor hub portion 32 may alternatively befixed to each other by another method, such as, for example, shrinkfitting.

The cylindrical portion 322 of the rotor hub portion 32 is arranged toextend in the axial direction to assume a cylindrical shape radiallyoutside of the joining portion 321 and radially inside of the inertiaportion 36. The flange portion 323 is arranged to extend radiallyoutward from a lower portion of the cylindrical portion 322. The flangeportion 323 is arranged axially below the inertia portion 36.

The inertia portion 36 is an annular member arranged radially outside ofthe cylindrical portion 322, axially above the flange portion 323, andaxially below the flywheel 35, which will be described below. A lowersurface of the inertia portion 36 is arranged to be in contact with anupper surface of the flange portion 323. In addition, the inertiaportion 36 is fixed to the cylindrical portion 322 or the flange portion323 through, for example, an adhesive. Accordingly, the inertia portion36 rotates together with the hub 320 and the flywheel 35 while the motor1 is running.

A metal, such as, for example, stainless steel, is used as a material ofat least a portion of the rotor hub portion 32, including the inertiaportion 36. The inertia portion 36 is arranged to have a specificgravity greater than the specific gravity of the flywheel 35, which willbe described below. Accordingly, provision of the inertia portion 36increases an inertial force of the rotating portion 3 while the motor 1is running. This contributes to stabilizing the posture of the rotatingportion 3. In particular, in this motor 1, the rotor hub portion 32 isarranged to have a total mass greater than the mass of the flywheel 35.Thus, a center of gravity of the rotating portion 3 is lowered,resulting in a more stable posture of the rotating portion 3. Note thatthe inertia portion 36 may not necessarily be arranged to have a massgreater than the mass of the flywheel 35. That is, the inertia portion36 may be arranged to have a mass smaller than the mass of the flywheel35.

As described above, in this motor 1, the lower surface of the inertiaportion 36 is arranged to be in contact with the upper surface of theflange portion 323. This stabilizes the axial position of the inertiaportion 36. In addition, in this motor 1, the inertia portion 36 isarranged above the flange portion 323 and below the flywheel 35. Thatis, the inertia portion 36 is held between the rotor hub portion 32 andthe flywheel 35. This further stabilizes the axial position of theinertia portion 36. The stabilized axial position of the inertia portion36 contributes to preventing a tilt of the inertia portion 36. Thiscontributes to further stabilizing the posture of the rotating portion 3while the motor 1 is running.

The yoke 33 is cylindrical, is fixed to a radially outer side of themagnet 34, which will be described below, and is arranged to hold themagnet 34, and at least an outer circumferential surface of the yoke 33is, for example, black, gray, or green in color. An outercircumferential surface of the magnet 34 is fixed to an innercircumferential surface of the yoke 33. The yoke 33 is arranged to besubstantially coaxial with the central axis 9. An upper end portion ofthe yoke 33 is fixed to a lower surface of the flange portion 323 of therotor hub portion 32 through an adhesive or by crimping, for example. Amagnetic material such as iron or the like is used as a material of theyoke 33. Accordingly, the yoke 33 has a specific gravity greater thanthe specific gravity of the rotor hub portion 32 when the rotor hubportion 32 is made of a metal such as aluminum or the like. Thus, themass of the yoke 33 contributes to increasing the inertial force of therotating portion 3. This leads to a more stable posture of the rotatingportion 3 while the motor 1 is running.

The magnet 34 is fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the yoke33 through, for example, an adhesive. In this motor 1, a permanentmagnet in the shape of a circular ring is used as the magnet 34. Themagnet 34 is cylindrical or substantially cylindrical in shape, and isarranged radially outside of the stator 23. An inner circumferentialsurface of the magnet 34 includes north and south poles arranged toalternate with each other in a circumferential direction. In addition,the inner circumferential surface of the magnet 34 is arranged radiallyopposite to a radially outer end surface of each of the teeth 412 of thestator 23 with a slight gap therebetween. That is, the magnet 34includes a pole surface arranged radially opposite to the stator 23.Note that a plurality of magnets may be used in place of the magnet 34in the shape of a circular ring. In the case where the plurality ofmagnets are used, the plurality of magnets 34 are arranged on the innercircumferential surface of the yoke 33 such that north and south polesalternate with each other in the circumferential direction. In thepresent preferred embodiment, the magnet 34 is indirectly fixed to therotor hub portion 32 with the yoke 33 intervening therebetween. Notethat the magnet 34 may alternatively be directly fixed to the rotor hubportion 32 without the yoke 33 intervening therebetween.

Once electric drive currents are supplied to the coils 42 of the stator23, a rotating magnetic field is generated around the teeth 412 of thestator core 41. Then, interaction between magnetic flux of the teeth 412and magnetic flux of the magnet 34 produces a circumferential torque. Asa result, the rotating portion 3, which includes the magnet 34, iscaused to rotate about the central axis 9.

The flywheel 35 is arranged axially above the rotor hub portion 32. Theflywheel 35 is fixed to the rotor hub portion 32 through, for example,an adhesive. Accordingly, the flywheel 35 rotates together with therotor hub portion 32. An ABS resin, which is a thermoplastic resin, forexample, is used as a material of the flywheel 35. Note that, instead ofthe ABS resin, another material, such as, for example, a thermosettingresin or a metal, may alternatively be used as the material of theflywheel 35. The flywheel 35 is able to achieve a lower weight when theflywheel 35 is made of a resin than when the flywheel 35 is made of ametal. Use of a resin for the flywheel 35 therefore leads to reducing aload during rotation of the motor 1. Note that the flywheel 35 may bearranged to have an axial dimension greater than an axial distance froma lower end surface of the stationary portion 2 to an upper end surfaceof the rotor hub portion 32. The posture of the rotating portion 3 whilethe motor 1 is running can be stabilized by arranging the inertiaportion 36, which has a specific gravity greater than that of theflywheel 35, below the flywheel 35 as described above.

In addition, in this motor 1, the flywheel 35 is arranged to have acircular external shape with the central axis 9 as a center when viewedin the axial direction. This circular external shape of the flywheel 35contributes to reducing swinging of the rotating portion 3 while themotor 1 is running.

2-2. Detailed Structure of Outer Circumferential Surface of RotatingPortion

Next, the detailed structure of an outer circumferential surface of therotating portion 3 of the motor 1 will now be described below.

FIG. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view of the motor 1 according tothe second preferred embodiment. Referring to FIG. 3, at least a portionof an outer circumferential surface of the flange portion 323 of therotor hub portion 32 is a metal surface 340. Note that an outercircumferential surface of the rotor hub portion 32 refers to anysurface of the rotor hub portion 32 that is exposed to a space outsideof the motor 1 when the rotor hub portion 32 is not covered with theseal portion 60, and may include a side surface, an upper surface, alower surface, or a slanting surface. In the present preferredembodiment, the metal surface 340 is arranged in a radially outer sidesurface of the flange portion 323.

The metal surface 340 is preferably a cut surface on which a surfacetreatment process has not been performed. The metal surface 340 has areflectivity higher than the reflectivity of an outer circumferentialsurface of the flywheel 35 and the reflectivity of a surface of the sealportion 60, which will be described below. For example, the flywheel 35is made of a resin, and the metal surface 340 is made of a metal, suchas, for example, a stainless metal or aluminum, and in this case, theouter circumferential surface of the flywheel 35 has a reflectivitylower than the reflectivity of the metal surface 340. Note that acoating having a reflectivity lower than the reflectivity of the metalsurface 340 may be applied on the outer circumferential surface of theflywheel 35 instead of or in addition to the flywheel 35 being made of aresin. Also note that a tape made of a material having a lowreflectivity may be stuck on the outer circumferential surface of theflywheel 35.

Further, the rotor hub portion 32 is preferably arranged to have anoutside diameter equal to or substantially equal to the outside diameterof the flywheel 35. Specifically, it is desirable that at least aportion of the metal surface 340 of the rotor hub portion 32 and atleast a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the flywheel 35be arranged to axially overlap with each other. An increase in theoutside diameter of the rotor hub portion 32 leads to an increase in themass of the rotating portion 3, which includes the rotor hub portion 32,which has a large specific gravity. This in turn leads to an increase inthe inertial force of the rotating portion 3, stabilizing the rotationthereof. In addition, since the rotor hub portion 32 and the flywheel 35have an equal or substantially equal outside diameter, the seal portion60, which will be described below, can be easily fixed. Note that theoutside diameter of the rotor hub portion 32 and the outside diameter ofthe flywheel 35 may be slightly different from each other.

This motor 1 is placed inside of a case, and a mirror (not shown) isused to reflect light emitted from a light source. If the metal surface340, which has a high reflectivity, were exposed, a portion of the lightemitted from the light source would be reflected by the metal surface340. Then, the reflected light would cause a diffuse reflection insideof the case. Thus, the light reflected by the mirror and light reflectedby the metal surface 340 might intermingle to spoil a wanted function tobe carried out by the reflected light.

Referring to FIG. 3, in the present preferred embodiment, the metalsurface 340 is covered with the seal portion 60, which has a thicknesssmaller than the thickness of the magnet 34. Accordingly, the lightemitted from the light source is blocked by the seal portion 60, anddoes not reach the metal surface 340. In addition, the seal portion 60is arranged to have a reflectivity lower than the reflectivity of themetal surface 340. Thus, a portion of incoming light is absorbed by thesurface of the seal portion 60, which reduces the occurrence of diffusereflection inside of the case. In addition, since the seal portion 60 isarranged to have a small thickness, the center of gravity of therotating portion 3 can be maintained radially inward. This contributesto further stabilizing the rotation thereof.

Here, it is desirable that the surface of the seal portion 60 be in acolor that does not easily allow reflection, such as black, dark green,gray, or the like, and that the seal portion 60 be defined by a tapemade of a resin or an opaque material, and be arranged to have athickness of 30 μm or more and sufficient strength. In addition, it issufficient if the metal surface 340 is covered by the seal portion 60over the entire circumferential extent thereof, and both circumferentialend portions of the seal portion 60 may overlap with each other or beslightly displaced from each other. Note that the metal surface 340 maybe covered with multiple layers of the seal portion 60 over the entirecircumferential extent thereof.

In the present preferred embodiment, an upper end of the seal portion 60is fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the flywheel 35through, for example, an adhesive, and at least a portion of the outercircumferential surface of the flywheel 35, including a lower endthereof, is covered with the seal portion 60. In addition, a lower endof the seal portion 60 is fixed to the outer circumferential surface ofthe yoke 33 through, for example, an adhesive, and at least a portion ofthe outer circumferential surface of the yoke 33, including an upper endthereof, is covered with the seal portion 60. As a result, the metalsurface 340 of the rotor hub portion 32, which has a high reflectivity,and the inertia portion 36 are securely covered by the seal portion 60.In addition, the likelihood that light will reach a gap between theflange portion 323 and the inertia portion 36 or a gap between theflange portion 323 and the yoke 33 to cause a diffuse reflection isreduced. Note, however, that the upper end and the lower end of the sealportion 60 may not necessarily be fixed to the outer circumferentialsurface of the flywheel 35 and the outer circumferential surface of theyoke 33, respectively, as long as the seal portion 60 covers the metalsurface 340. For example, the upper end of the seal portion 60 mayalternatively be fixed to an outer circumferential surface of theinertia portion 36 in the vicinity of a top of the inertia portion 36.

Note that, in order to reduce the likelihood that incoming light willimpinge on the surface of the seal portion 60, the outer circumferentialsurface of the flywheel 35, or the outer circumferential surface of theyoke 33 and be diffusely reflected to the surroundings, it is desirablethat at least the surface of the seal portion 60 and the outercircumferential surfaces of the flywheel 35 and the yoke 33 have a lowlight reflectivity. Accordingly, it is desirable that the outercircumferential surface of the yoke 33 be roughened. Examples ofroughening methods include a method of forming processing marks on theouter circumferential surface with a cutting process or press working; amethod of performing shot blasting of blowing abrasive, such as, forexample, sand, against the outer circumferential surface; a method ofapplying a resin in which minute particles are dispersed onto the outercircumferential surface and solidifying the resin; a method of applyinga chemical solvent onto the outer circumferential surface to dissolvethe surface; and a method of spraying a chemical solvent onto the outercircumferential surface using a spray.

Note that, in order to reduce the reflectivity, a plating process and anoxidation treatment may be performed, instead of roughening the outercircumferential surface of the yoke 33. Also note that a member made ofa metal or a resin and having a reflectivity lower than the reflectivityof the metal surface 340 of the rotor hub portion 32 may be fixed to theouter circumferential surface of the yoke 33, that a coating having areflectivity lower than the reflectivity of the metal surface 340 may beapplied onto the outer circumferential surface of the yoke 33, or that atape made of such a material may be stuck on the outer circumferentialsurface of the yoke 33.

2-3. Fluid Dynamic Bearing

Next, a fluid dynamic bearing 5 included in the motor 1 will now bedescribed below. FIG. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view of themotor 1. Referring to FIG. 4, a lubricating oil 50 is arranged betweenthe bearing 24, which includes the sleeve 25 and the cap 26, and acombination of the shaft 31 and the annular portion 37. A polyolesteroil or a diester oil, for example, is used as the lubricating oil 50.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the bearing 24. Referring to FIG.5, the sleeve 25 includes an upper radial groove array 511 and a lowerradial groove array 512 in the inner circumferential surface thereof.The lower radial groove array 512 is arranged axially below the upperradial groove array 511. Each of the upper and lower radial groovearrays 511 and 512 is a groove array arranged in a so-called herringbonepattern. While the motor 1 is running, the upper and lower radial groovearrays 511 and 512 induce a dynamic pressure in a portion of thelubricating oil 50 which is present between the inner circumferentialsurface of the sleeve 25 and the outer circumferential surface of theshaft 31. This produces a radial supporting force between the sleeve 25and the shaft 31.

That is, in this motor 1, the inner circumferential surface of thesleeve 25 and the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 31 arearranged radially opposite to each other with the lubricating oil 50therebetween to define a radial bearing portion 51. In addition, theradial bearing portion 51 includes an upper radial bearing portion 501arranged to generate a dynamic pressure through the upper radial groovearray 511, and a lower radial bearing portion 502 arranged to generate adynamic pressure through the lower radial groove array 512. The lowerradial bearing portion 502 is arranged axially below the upper radialbearing portion 501. Note that it may be sufficient if each of the upperand lower radial groove arrays 511 and 512 is defined in at least one ofthe inner circumferential surface of the sleeve 25 and the outercircumferential surface of the shaft 31. Also note that the number ofradial dynamic pressure groove arrays may alternatively be one or morethan two.

In addition, referring to FIG. 5, in this motor 1, an axial dimension hlof the upper radial groove array 511 is arranged to be greater than anaxial dimension h2 of the lower radial groove array 512. Therefore, anaxial dimension of the upper radial bearing portion 501 is greater thanan axial dimension of the lower radial bearing portion 502. This causesthe lubricating oil 50 to generate a stronger dynamic pressure at aposition closer to the center of gravity of the rotating portion 3. Thisleads to a more stable posture of the rotating portion 3 during therotation thereof. This in turn leads to a reduction in the likelihoodthat damage to the joining portion 321 will be caused by the swinging ofthe rotating portion 3.

In addition, in this motor 1, at least a portion of the inertia portion36 and at least a portion of the radial bearing portion 51 are arrangedto radially overlap with each other. Specifically, referring to FIG. 4,a lower portion of an axial range Al in which the inertia portion 36extends is arranged to overlap with an upper portion of an axial rangeA2 in which the upper radial bearing portion 501 extends. Accordingly,the upper radial bearing portion 501 is able to generate a strongdynamic pressure in the lubricating oil 50 at a level equivalent to thelevel of the inertia portion 36, which has a large specific gravity, tosupport the rotating portion 3. This leads to a more stable posture ofthe rotating portion 3 during the rotation thereof. A stabilized postureof the rotating portion 3 leads to an additional reduction in thelikelihood that damage to the joining portion 321 will be caused by theswinging of the rotating portion 3.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the sleeve 25. Referring to FIG. 6, thesleeve 25 includes a thrust groove array 521 in the lower surfacethereof. The thrust groove array 521 includes a plurality of thrustgrooves arranged in the circumferential direction. The thrust groovesare arranged to extend radially in a spiral shape. Note that the thrustgroove array 521 may alternatively be arranged in a herringbone pattern.While the motor 1 is running, the thrust groove array 521 induces afluid dynamic pressure in a portion of the lubricating oil 50 which ispresent between the lower surface of the sleeve 25 and the upper surfaceof the annular portion 37. This produces an axial supporting force thatsupports the annular portion 37 with respect to the sleeve 25,stabilizing the rotation of the rotating portion 3.

That is, in this motor 1, the lower surface of the sleeve 25 of thestationary portion 2 and the upper surface of the annular portion 37 ofthe rotating portion 3 are arranged axially opposite to each other witha gap in which the lubricating oil 50 exists therebetween to define athrust bearing portion 52. Note that it may be sufficient if the thrustgroove array 521 is defined in at least one of the lower surface of thesleeve 25 and the upper surface of the annular portion 37. Also notethat the number of thrust bearing portions 52 may be two or more. Alsonote that the thrust bearing portion 52 may alternatively be definedbetween the upper surface of the cap 26 and the lower surface of theannular portion 37.

As described above, a gap in the form of a bladder and including theradial bearing portion 51 and the thrust bearing portion 52 is definedbetween a combination of the sleeve 25 and the cap 26 and thecombination of the shaft 31 and the annular portion 37. This gapincludes a thrust gap defined between the upper surface or the lowersurface of the annular portion 37 and a surface of the sleeve 25 or ofthe cap 26 which is axially opposite to the annular portion 37, and aradial gap defined between the outer circumferential surface of theshaft 31 and a surface of the sleeve 25 which is radially opposite tothe shaft 31. The radial bearing portion 51 is defined in the radialgap, while the thrust bearing portion 52 is defined in the thrust gap.The lubricating oil 50 is continuously arranged in the gap including thethrust gap and the radial gap. The shaft 31 is supported through thelubricating oil 50 to be rotatable with respect to the sleeve 25 and thecap 26. In a situation in which the lubricating oil 50 has been fullyarranged in the gap, a liquid surface of the lubricating oil 50 isdefined only in the vicinity of the upper end portion of the sleeve 25between the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 31 and the innercircumferential surface of the sleeve 25, that is, only at an upper endof the radial gap or in the vicinity of the upper end of the radial gap.That is, the fluid dynamic bearing 5 of this motor 1 is arranged to havea so-called full-fill structure, in which the liquid surface of thelubricating oil 50 is defined at only one position. Adoption of thefull-fill structure, in which the lubricating oil 50 is arranged betweenthe stationary portion 2 and the rotating portion 3, contributes toreducing swinging of the rotating portion 3 due to the orientation inwhich the motor 1 is placed and/or vibration, and also contributes topreventing a contact between the stationary portion 2 and the rotatingportion 3 when a shock is applied to the motor 1 during the rotation ofthe motor 1.

The fluid dynamic bearing 5 is defined by the combination of the sleeve25 and the cap 26 of the stationary portion 2, the combination of theshaft 31 and the annular portion 37 of the rotating portion 3, and thelubricating oil 50, which is arranged therebetween. The rotating portion3 is supported by the fluid dynamic bearing 5, and rotates about thecentral axis 9. Note that the rotating portion 3 may alternatively besupported to be rotatable with respect to the stationary portion 2 byanother bearing, such as, for example, a ball bearing or a plainbearing, instead of by the fluid dynamic bearing 5.

3. Example Modifications

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it will be understood that the present invention is not limitedto the above-described preferred embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a motor 1B according to amodification of the second preferred embodiment. In the modificationillustrated in FIG. 7, a seal portion 60B is arranged to cover an areaextending from at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface ofa flywheel 35B to a lower end of an outer circumferential surface of acylindrical yoke 33B, which is fixed to a rotor hub portion 32B. As aresult, a metal surface 340B of the rotor hub portion 32B, which has ahigh reflectivity, is more securely covered by the seal portion 60B.Accordingly, the likelihood that light will reach a gap between therotor hub portion 32B and the yoke 33B to cause a diffuse reflection canbe further reduced. Note that, in the case where the seal portion 60B isarranged to cover up to the lower end of the outer circumferentialsurface of the yoke 33B, a process such as a roughening process, aplating process, an oxidation treatment, or the like may not beperformed on the outer circumferential surface of the yoke 33B.

FIG. 8 is a partial vertical sectional view of a motor 1C according toanother modification of the second preferred embodiment. In themodification illustrated in FIG. 8, a rotor hub portion 32C includes agroove portion 324C recessed radially inward in at least a portion of anouter circumferential surface of a flange portion 323C or of an inertiaportion 36C. The motor 1C may further include at least one balancecorrection member 325C having a sufficient mass to perform a function ofcorrecting balance of a rotating portion 3C at one or morecircumferential positions in the groove portion 324C. Balance of themotor 1C, which includes the rotating portion 3C, can thus be correctedafter a flywheel 35C is fixed to the rotor hub portion 32C, andtherefore, rotation of the motor 1C with the flywheel 35C mountedthereon can be further stabilized. In particular, the rotor hub portion32C is covered with a seal portion 60C after the arrangement of thebalance correction member(s) 325C, and this leads to more secure fixingof the balance correction member(s) 325C.

It is desirable that, in an outer circumferential surface of the rotorhub portion 32C, the groove portion 324C be arranged to extend in thecircumferential direction over the entire circumferential extent of therotor hub portion 32C. This makes it possible to arbitrarily choose thenumber of balance correction members 325C and the position(s) of thebalance correction member(s) 325C, and this leads to improved operatingefficiency. Note, however, that the groove portion 324C mayalternatively be defined by a cut or cuts arranged at only one or morecircumferential positions in the outer circumferential surface of therotor hub portion 32C.

FIG. 9 is a partial vertical sectional view of a motor 1D according toyet another modification of the second preferred embodiment. In themodification illustrated in FIG. 9, a rotor hub portion 32D is fixed toa circumference of an upper end portion of a shaft 31D. In addition, alower surface of a joining portion 321D and an upper surface of a sleeve25D are arranged axially opposite to each other with a slight gap (i.e.,a second thrust gap) therebetween. In the modification illustrated inFIG. 9, a lubricating oil 50D is arranged in this second thrust gap aswell. In addition, a second thrust groove array (not shown) is definedin one of the lower surface of the joining portion 321D and the uppersurface of the sleeve 25D. While the motor 1D is running, the secondthrust groove array induces a dynamic pressure in a portion of thelubricating oil 50D which is present between the lower surface of thejoining portion 321D and the upper surface of the sleeve 25D. Thisproduces an axial supporting force that supports the rotor hub portion32D with respect to the sleeve 25D.

In a situation in which the lubricating oil 50D has been fully arrangedin a gap, a liquid surface of the lubricating oil 50D is defined in thevicinity of an upper end portion of the sleeve 25D between an outercircumferential surface of the sleeve 25D and an inner circumferentialsurface of a cylindrical portion 322D of the rotor hub portion 32D. Thatis, a fluid dynamic bearing 5D of this motor 1D is arranged to have aso-called full-fill structure, in which the liquid surface of thelubricating oil 50D is defined at only one position.

That is, in the motor 1D illustrated in FIG. 9, at the second thrustgap, the lower surface of the joining portion 321D and the upper surfaceof the sleeve 25D are arranged axially opposite to each other with thelubricating oil 50D therebetween to define a second thrust bearingportion 52D. In addition, the lubricating oil 50D is continuouslyarranged in a gap including a radial bearing portion 51D and the secondthrust bearing portion 52D. This leads to a more stable rotation of themotor 1D.

Note that a plain bearing (e.g., a sintered bearing) (not shown)impregnated with a lubricating oil may alternatively be used as abearing 24D. In this case, it is desirable that a housing (not shown) beadditionally arranged radially outside of the sleeve 25D to prevent anoil leakage. In this case, in a situation in which the lubricating oil50D has been fully arranged in the gap, a liquid surface of thelubricating oil 50D is defined in the vicinity of an upper end portionof the housing between an outer circumferential surface of the housingand the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 322D ofthe rotor hub portion 32D. Similarly, at the second thrust gap, thelower surface of the joining portion 321D and the upper surface of thesleeve 25D are arranged axially opposite to each other with thelubricating oil 50D therebetween to define the second thrust bearingportion 52D.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a motor 1E according to yetanother modification of the second preferred embodiment. In themodification illustrated in FIG. 10, a rotating portion 3E includes amirror 40E. The mirror 40E is supported by a flywheel 35E. Once themotor 1E is driven, the mirror 40E is caused to rotate together with theflywheel 35E. This allows light coming toward the flywheel 35E to bereflected while the light is deflected with a fixed cycle.

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of a motor 1F according to yetanother modification of the second preferred embodiment. As illustratedin FIG. 11, a rotor hub portion 32F of the motor 1F may not include aninertia portion and be made up of only a hub 320F.

Note that the flywheel may be a resin injection-molded article producedwith the inertia portion as an insert. In this case, a molten resin ispoured into a cavity of a mold with the inertia portion arranged in themold, and the resin is cured to complete manufacture of the flywheel.This achieves molding of the flywheel and fixing of the flywheel to theinertia portion at the same time. Thus, a reduction in the number ofprocesses to manufacture the motor is achieved. Moreover, the flywheeland the inertia portion can be fixed to each other with increasedstrength.

Note that details of the structure and the shape of a motor according toa preferred embodiment of the present invention may differ from detailsof the structure and the shape of each motor as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings of the present application. Also note thatfeatures of the above-described preferred embodiments and themodifications thereof may be combined appropriately as long as noconflict arises.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are applicable to motors.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will beapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeand spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention,therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A motor comprising: a stationary portionincluding a bearing; and a rotating portion rotatable about a centralaxis of the motor, wherein the rotating portion includes: a shaftextending along the central axis, the shaft being rotatably supported bythe bearing; a rotor hub portion disposed around the shaft and having anannular shape, at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface ofthe rotor hub portion being a metal surface; a magnet directly orindirectly fixed to the rotor hub portion; and a seal portion having athickness smaller than a thickness of the magnet, the seal portioncovering at least a portion of the metal surface, and a reflectivity ofa surface of the seal portion being less than a reflectivity of themetal surface.
 2. The motor according to claim 1, wherein: the rotatingportion further includes a flywheel arranged axially above the rotor hubportion; and the seal portion also covers a portion of an outercircumferential surface of the flywheel.
 3. The motor according to claim2, wherein a reflectivity of the outer circumferential surface of theflywheel is less than the reflectivity of the metal surface.
 4. Themotor according to claim 1, wherein the rotor hub portion includes: aninertia portion having an annular shape and being made of a metal; and ahub; a flange portion of the hub is arranged axially below the inertiaportion; an outer circumferential surface of the flange portioncorresponds to the metal surface; and the seal portion also covers anouter circumferential surface of the inertia portion.
 5. The motoraccording to claim 1, wherein the rotating portion further includes ayoke fixed to a radially outer side of the magnet, the yoke having acylindrical shape; the yoke is fixed to the rotor hub portion; and theseal portion also covers at least a portion of an outer circumferentialsurface of the yoke.
 6. The motor according to claim 1, wherein thethickness of the seal portion is no less than 30 micrometers.
 7. Themotor according to claim 1, wherein the stationary portion furtherincludes: a stator; and a base portion holding the stator, wherein themagnet is arranged opposite to the stator.
 8. A motor comprising: astationary portion including a bearing; and a rotating portion rotatableabout a central axis of the motor, wherein the rotating portionincludes: a shaft extending along the central axis, the shaft beingrotatably supported by the bearing; a rotor hub portion disposed aroundthe shaft and having an annular shape, at least a portion of an outercircumferential surface of the rotor hub portion being a metal surface;a magnet directly or indirectly attached to the rotor hub portion; and aseal portion having a thickness smaller than a thickness of the magnet,the seal portion covering at least a portion of the metal surface, andthe seal portion being made of a material that has a reflectivity lessthan a reflectivity of the metal surface.
 9. The motor according toclaim 8, wherein a color of the material of the seal portion is at leastone of black, green, or gray.
 10. The motor according to claim 8,wherein the material of the seal portion comprises a resin.
 11. Themotor according to claim 8, wherein: the rotating portion furtherincludes a flywheel arranged axially above the rotor hub portion; andthe seal portion also covers a portion of an outer circumferentialsurface of the flywheel.
 12. The motor according to claim 11, whereinthe rotating portion further includes a mirror supported by the flywheeland arranged to reflect light directed toward the flywheel.
 13. Themotor according to claim 8, wherein the rotor hub portion includes: aninertia portion having an annular shape and being made of a metal; and ahub; a flange portion of the hub is arranged axially below the inertiaportion; an outer circumferential surface of the flange portioncorresponds to the metal surface; and the seal portion also covers anouter circumferential surface of the inertia portion.
 14. The motoraccording to claim 8, wherein the rotating portion further includes ayoke fixed to a radially outer side of the magnet, the yoke having acylindrical shape; the yoke is fixed to the rotor hub portion; and theseal portion also covers at least a portion of an outer circumferentialsurface of the yoke.
 15. A motor comprising: a stationary portionincluding a bearing; and a rotating portion rotatable about a centralaxis of the motor, wherein the rotating portion includes: a shaftextending along the central axis, the shaft being rotatably supported bythe bearing; a rotor hub portion disposed around the shaft and having anannular shape, at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface ofthe rotor hub portion being a metal surface; a magnet directly orindirectly coupled to the rotor hub portion; and a seal portion having athickness smaller than a thickness of the magnet, the seal portioncovering at least a portion of the metal surface, and the seal portionbeing made of a resin.
 16. The motor according to claim 15, wherein themetal surface is made of at least one of stainless metal or aluminum.17. The motor according to claim 15, wherein: the rotating portionfurther includes a flywheel arranged axially above the rotor hubportion; and the seal portion also covers a portion of an outercircumferential surface of the flywheel.
 18. The motor according toclaim 15, wherein the rotor hub portion includes: an inertia portionhaving an annular shape and being made of a metal; and a hub; a flangeportion of the hub is arranged axially below the inertia portion; anouter circumferential surface of the flange portion corresponds to themetal surface; and the seal portion also covers an outer circumferentialsurface of the inertia portion.
 19. The motor according to claim 15,wherein the rotating portion further includes a yoke fixed to a radiallyouter side of the magnet, the yoke having a cylindrical shape; the yokeis fixed to the rotor hub portion; and the seal portion also covers atleast a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the yoke.
 20. Themotor according to claim 15, wherein the metal surface is covered by theseal portion over an entire circumferential extent of the rotor hubportion.